Grade 1 winner FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) will make his second appearance
of the year in Saturday’s $300,000
Carter H.
(G1), and the six-year-old gelding has shown a preference for the main track
at Aqueduct, winning both previous starts. The Walter Downey-owned veteran exits
a runner-up finish in the February 16 General George H. (G2) behind TRUE QUALITY
(Elusive Quality), who will bring a two-race winning streak in the seven-furlong
Carter. TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat) could also prove to be a very formidable
rival, winning the Cigar Mile H. (G1) over the track two starts back.
Trained by Todd Beattie, Fabulous Strike captured the Fall Highweight H. at
the Big A last November, and the Pennsylvania-bred has earned BRIS Speed ratings
of 112 and 111 in his last three outings. Ramon Dominguez, who missed the
General George, will return to the saddle. True Quality will be a forward factor
from the start under C.C. Lopez, and the improving John Campo Jr. trainee is a
threat to last a long way. He pulled away late to a 1 1/2-length decision in the seven-furlong
General George at Laurel Park, and the
four-year-old colt is a four-time winner over Aqueduct’s main track.
Tale of Ekati was elevated to first after finishing a nose back in the Cigar,
but the Barclay Tagg runner won the Wood Memorial (G1) fair and square last
April. He’s eligible to improve off a fourth in his seasonal opener, the
seven-furlong Richter Scale Sprint S.(G2) at Gulfstream Park, and regular rider Edgar
Prado will guide him.
Other contenders include AH DAY (Malibu Moon), a last-to-first winner of the
Toboggan H. (G3) on March 7 and third in last year’s Carter, and multiple Grade 2 victor
KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse), a fast-finishing second in the Duncan F. Kenner S. last
out for the Larry Jones.